How Much Water Do You Need to Drink in a Desert?

It may be surprising to learn that desert travellers often live for many weeks and months at a time, working hard in hot conditions with only a few litres of water each day. Conventional wisdom may dictate drinking many times more (up to ten litres in some instances) for that level of exertion in those temperatures but evidence from desert expeditions indicates that, if properly managed, you can safely operate for long periods on considerably less.

Below are the daily water rations of some different desert travellers. I’ve included what they used the water for and what activity they were undertaking to help give a fuller picture. I’ve listed my sources too, although in most instances I just asked the person in question.

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About the Author

Tim Moss has supported over 100 expeditions across all seven continents. He has climbed new mountains, crossed a desert and recently cycled 13,000 miles around the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society London and a Guinness World Record Holder. He aims to encourage more people to live adventurously. Read more...